Eli Drinkwitz lands on 2025 Dodd Trophy Preseason Watch List
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Mizzou football coach Eli Drinkwitz found his name on a prestigious list, ahead of the start of the 2025 campaign.
The Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation and the Peach Bowl announced that the leader of the Tigers made the 2025 Dodd Trophy Preseason Watch List, along with 25 other head coaches around the nation, on Monday. All of the Power-Four conferences are represented on that list, including the AAC, Mountain West and an Independent.
The Dodd Trophy celebrates the head coach who finds the most success on the field, while also stressing the importance of leadership, scholarship and integrity with their teams. The 2025 honor will mark the 50th anniversary of an award that's among the most coveted for head coaches around the country.
Drinkwitz earned the preseason nod ahead of his sixth season at the helm in Columbia. Since taking over ahead of the 2020 season, Coach Drink has complied a 38-24 overall record and has even eclipsed legendary head coach Dan Devine's school record for wins in the first five seasons of a tenure. The past two seasons are where the Tigers have found the most success under his leadership, though. In both 2023 and 2024, Mizzou finished the season ranked in the Top-25 and has posted a combined 21-5 overall mark. That run also includes an 11-5 record in Southeastern Conference play, which is tied for the third best two-year stretch in program history.
Through the 2024 season, Mizzou also achieved perfection at Memorial Stadium with its 15th perfect year at home in program history. It's the first undefeated record at home since 2010, while selling out all seven home games to mark the first Tigers season sellout since 1979.
However, Drinkwitz and the Tigers will look to make even more history in 2025. The Tigers will aim for their third-straight 10-win season, which would be the first time that's been accomplished in program history.
The Arkansas native has guided his players to success both on and off the field, as well. In his five seasons at Mizzou, he has mentored 16 players to 18 all-conference honors, including 10 First-Team All-SEC recognitions. Coach Eli has also coached 17 Tigers in to the NFL, including first-rounder Darius Robinson and second-rounder Nick Bolton.
In the 2025 NFL Draft, Coach Drinkwitz saw both offensive lineman Armand Membou and wide receiver Luther Burden get drafted in the Top-40 picks. It's just the eighth time that has happened in program history and the first time since 2011, when both Aldon Smith and Blaine Gabbert were picked up.
A midseason watch list – adding to or narrowing the field – will be released in the fall.
